August 2011
Public Notification – Commencement of Works relating to Beach Road Intersection Formation
The development of Beach Road is planned to commence on Monday 08 August 2011.
The development will provide for the construction of a new intersection to provide for continued access to the Long Bay Regional Park and allow entry into the proposed Long Bay residential development including construction of earthworks, roads, stormwater drains, water main, and utility services, excavation of trenches and associated sediment and erosion controls. It is expected to take approximately 13 weeks to complete. The Contractor will be Hick Bros Civil Construction Ltd.
Traffic management will be set up utilizing shoulder closures, diversions and stop/go’s according to the operations carried out within the road boundary. Beach Road between Glenvar Road and Long Bay Drive will be closed between the dates 08th August to 30th August 2011, from 7am to 7pm daily to allow for the construction of retaining wall, water and utility services installation.
Where works are unable to be completed due to adverse weather conditions and other unforeseen factors, contingency rain dates are scheduled for 31st August to 16th September 2011.
Suitable posted detour routes will be available. The immediate affected residents will still have access to their properties during this time.
We apologise for any temporary inconvenience the work may cause and thank you for your cooperation.
June 2011
Long Bay Development Update
Torbay Newsletter, June 2011, pages 14-15
Substantial earthworks have been undertaken over the course of the 2010/2011 construction season on the south facing slopes below the Awaruku Ridge. This work builds on the more limited earthworks which took place during the 2009/2010 season on the Awaruku Flats between Beach Road and the Awaruku Stream. These earthworks set the platform for Stage One of the Todd Property Group Development at Long Bay which is progressing towards a projected completion date for Stage One in Spring 2012.
A new intersection will be formed on Beach Road this coming winter, and a new road will extend from there across the Awaruku Flats to enter the development via a bridge across the Awaruku Stream. The water quality wetland will lie on the western side of the new entry road, while on the eastern side between the new road and the Regional Park, a sculptured landform will be created and landscaped primarily for public recreation. Paths
and trails will also be formed around the wetland and along the stream which will be substantially planted with native riparian species.
Earthworks will close down over winter, but some limited civil works, such as the formation of the new intersection on Beach Road, are programmed to occur through the middle of this year. With the arrival of Spring later in the year, substantial new works will commence – namely Stage subdivision 1 works, the second earthworks stage on the northern side of the Awaruku Ridge, and a major upgrade to the wastewater network including a small pump house below the new Beach Road intersection and new rising mains up Beach Road towards Torbay. These works are all scheduled for completion in 2012. Works on public roads will be programmed for winter when traffic volumes are lighter.
The Environment Court is expected to give final approval to the Plan Change for the Long Bay area this year. That willbe the trigger point for the process for Todd Property Group to transfer a large area of the Awaruku Headland over-looking Long Bay Beach, to the Auckland Council. Under an agreement with Todd, the area will become a large public heritage park.
October 2010
`Sensational views' saved for public at Long Bay - by Wayne Thompson, New Zealand Herald
About 23ha of a housing developer's land at Long Bay will go into public reserves to form a green buffer for the popular North Shore regional park and beach. The North Shore City Council yesterday announced it had reached agreement with Todd Property Group for public ownership of 18.7ha zoned for protecting archaeological sites, as well as 4.6ha for parks.
Long Bay-Okura Great Park Society convener Chris Bettany said: ``We are thrilled _ it gives the public absolutely sensational views.''
The land includes some of a grassy southern slope which the society had hoped to buy to retain as a green backdrop to the park and protect the rural look of its Beach Rd entrance. However, despite raising $7 million in pledges, the society could not meet the developer's price because the council had not protected the slope from housing.
Todd's project covers 162.7ha, with plans for over 2000 houses and a village centre in 10 to 15 years.
Mayor Andrew Williams said the land saved for the public was worth $35 million and was the biggest land deal in Auckland in the past year.
However, no money changed hands. Council chief executive John Brockies said the land and heritage protection area was paid for by a reduction in the normal compulsory developer contributions assessed on the company's plans for each building site.
In return, the company had the certainty of knowing the park's layout and where future stages of development could go.
Mr Brockies said the council worked for 12 years to integrate planning at this last undeveloped beach in metropolitan Auckland.
Ms Bettany thanked the Auckland Regional Council for backing the society's case in the Environment Court against both the city council's and the company's structure plan development proposals.
August 2010
Stage 1 earthworks to commence September 2010
Stage 1 earthworks will commence in September 2010 and continue through to May 2011. These works will address land instability and provide the foundation for future subdivision and development.
Access to the works area will be via the gate on Beach Road. This entry point will be governed by access control and a traffic management plan.
Health and Safety is very important to us and accordingly the works area will be fenced off and no unauthorised persons will be permitted to access the site. The works area will contain hazards including heavy machinery and deep excavations and we would greatly appreciate your assistance in ensuring that non authorised people stay out of the area.
May 2010
Preliminary earthworks end for winter, resume in late September 2010
Preliminary earthworks on the Awaruku Wetland have ended until next spring (earthworks resume in late September 2010). While the site can be viewed from Beach Road, entering the site is prohibited as it is not safe due to soft ground and bays of standing water.
February 2010
Preliminary earthworks begin
Todd Property Group intends to begin preliminary earthworks on site beginning the week starting 15 February 2010. These works are subject to final North Shore City Council and Auckland Regional Council consent.
The preliminary works will conclude in April 2010. Todd Property Group intend to begin our full Earthworks programme in October 2010.
The preliminary works are to provide essential stormwater infrastructure for both the proposed new development and the existing Long Bay region. Below is a plan showing the construction area and some of the proposed features of the new Awaruku wetland area.
The preliminary earthworks will involve the construction of an off-stream storm water wetland to treat the storm water runoff from a 226 hectare residential catchment, the catchment is made up of 205 hectares of existing residential catchment from the Torbay Heights and Awaruku areas and 21 hectares of proposed residential catchment from the Long Bay development.
The works will involve the excavation of a series of bays to provide for storm water storage capacity, the excavated material will be placed on site. The wetland and the banks of the Awaruku Stream will be fully landscaped with appropriate species on completion of the works.
When completed wetland will greatly improve the water quality of the Awaruku Stream which discharges directly into the sea at Long Bay.
The wetland design and construction is being undertaken in partnership between North Shore City Council and Todd Property Group.
The preliminary earthworks will also form an embankment which will support the future extension of Beach Road across the Awaruku Flats and will also begin to stabilise the Awaruku Slopes.